ATI PHARMACOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
NEW MODIFIED SOLUTIONS
A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about medication reconciliation. The nurse should instruct
the newly licensed nurse to perform medication reconciliation for which of the following? a. A client
who has a referral for social services
b. A client who is transdermal to radiology
c. A client who is transferal to a step-down unit
d. A client who has a consultation for physical therapy - CORRECT
ANSWER c. A client who is transferal to a step-down unit
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who is taking atorvastatin. Which of the
following laboratory values indicates the treatment has been effective? a. BUN 15 mg/dL
b. Blood glucose 90 mg/dL
c. Urine specific gravity 1.020
d. LDL 120 mg/dL - CORRECT ANSWER d. LDL 120 mg/dL
A nurse is receiving a medication prescription by telephone from a
provider. The provider states "Administer 6 milligrams of morphine IV
push every 3 hours as needed for acute pain." How should the nurse transcribe the prescription in the
client's medical record? a. Morphine 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
b. MSO 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
Page 1 of 245
,c. MS 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
d. Morphine 6.0 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain - CORRECT
ANSWER a. Morphine 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
A nurse is assessing a client's IV infusion site and notes that the site is cool and edematous. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Show the IV solution rate
b. Initiate a new IV distal to the initial site
c. Maintain the extremity below the level of the heart
d. Apply a warm moist compress - CORRECT ANSWER d. Apply a warm moist compress
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for clozapine. Which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. "Diarrhea is a common adverse effect of this medication."
b. "Ringing in the ears is an expected adverse effect of this medication."
c. "Notify your provider if you develop a fever while taking this medication."
d. "You might experience weight loss while taking this medication." - CORRECT ANSWER
c. "Notify your provider if you develop a fever while taking this medication."
A nurse is teaching a client about oral contraceptive. Which of the following information should the
nurse include in the teaching?
a. Abdominal pain is an expected adverse effect of oral contraceptives
b. It can take up to 1 year to become pregnant after stopping an oral contraceptive
c. Some herbal supplements can decrease the effectiveness of an oral contraceptive
d. A pelvic examination is needed prior to starting an oral contraceptive - CORRECT
ANSWER b. It can take up to 1 year to become pregnant after stopping an oral contraceptive
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,A nurse is planning to administer medication to an older adult client who has dysphagia. Which of the
following actions should the nurse plan to take?
a. Tilt the client's head back when administering the medications
b. Mix the medications with a semisolid food for the client
c. Administer more than one pill to the client at a time
d. Place the medications on the back of the client's tongue - CORRECT ANSWER b. Mix the
medications with a semisolid food for the client
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about the administration of omeprazole. Which of the
following should the nurse include? a. "You cannot take this medication with an antacid."
b. "You should reduce your intake of calcium while taking this medication."
c. "You should take this medication before meals."
d. "You can take a second dose if symptoms persist up to 2 hours after the first dose." -
CORRECT ANSWER a. "You cannot take this medication with an antacid."
A nurse is assessing for allergies with a client who is scheduled to receive the influenza vaccine.
Which of the following allergies should the nurse report to the provider as a possible contraindication
to receiving the vaccine? a. Eggs
b. Shellfish
c. Peanuts
d. Milk - CORRECT ANSWER a. Eggs
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of benign prostate hypertrophy and a
prescription for doxazosin. The client tells the nurse. "I do not take this medication. I would prefer a
natural therapy." Which of the following supplements should the nurse suggest the client discuss with
the provider? a. Black cohosh
b. Garlic
c. Feverfew
d. Saw palmetto - CORRECT ANSWER d. Saw palmetto
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, A nurse is caring for a client who is taking digoxin to treat heart failure. Which of the following
predisposes this client to developing digoxin toxicity?
a. Taking a high ceiling diuretic
b. Having a 10-year history of COPD
c. Having a prolapsed mitral valve
d. Taking an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor - CORRECT ANSWER a. Taking a high ceiling
diuretic
A nurse is administering naloxone to a client who has developed an adverse reaction to morphine. The
nurse should identify which of the following findings as a therapeutic effect of naloxone? a.
Decreased nausea
b. Increased pain relief
c. Decreased blood pressure
d. Increased respiratory rate - CORRECT ANSWER d. Increased respiratory rate
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has sinusitis and a new prescription for
cefuroxime. Which of the following client information is the priority for the nurse to report to the
provider? a. The client has a BUN of 18 mg/dL
b. The client takes an aspirin daily
c. The client has a history of a severe penicillin allergy
d. The client reports a history of nausea with cefuroxime - CORRECT ANSWER c. The client
has a history of a severe penicillin allergy
A nurse is assessing a client who has hypermagnesemia. Which of the following medications should
the nurse prepare to administer? a. Protamine sulfate
b. Acetylcysteine
c. Calcium gluconate
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AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
NEW MODIFIED SOLUTIONS
A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about medication reconciliation. The nurse should instruct
the newly licensed nurse to perform medication reconciliation for which of the following? a. A client
who has a referral for social services
b. A client who is transdermal to radiology
c. A client who is transferal to a step-down unit
d. A client who has a consultation for physical therapy - CORRECT
ANSWER c. A client who is transferal to a step-down unit
A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who is taking atorvastatin. Which of the
following laboratory values indicates the treatment has been effective? a. BUN 15 mg/dL
b. Blood glucose 90 mg/dL
c. Urine specific gravity 1.020
d. LDL 120 mg/dL - CORRECT ANSWER d. LDL 120 mg/dL
A nurse is receiving a medication prescription by telephone from a
provider. The provider states "Administer 6 milligrams of morphine IV
push every 3 hours as needed for acute pain." How should the nurse transcribe the prescription in the
client's medical record? a. Morphine 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
b. MSO 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
Page 1 of 245
,c. MS 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
d. Morphine 6.0 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain - CORRECT
ANSWER a. Morphine 6 mg IV push every 3 hr PRN acute pain
A nurse is assessing a client's IV infusion site and notes that the site is cool and edematous. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Show the IV solution rate
b. Initiate a new IV distal to the initial site
c. Maintain the extremity below the level of the heart
d. Apply a warm moist compress - CORRECT ANSWER d. Apply a warm moist compress
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for clozapine. Which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
a. "Diarrhea is a common adverse effect of this medication."
b. "Ringing in the ears is an expected adverse effect of this medication."
c. "Notify your provider if you develop a fever while taking this medication."
d. "You might experience weight loss while taking this medication." - CORRECT ANSWER
c. "Notify your provider if you develop a fever while taking this medication."
A nurse is teaching a client about oral contraceptive. Which of the following information should the
nurse include in the teaching?
a. Abdominal pain is an expected adverse effect of oral contraceptives
b. It can take up to 1 year to become pregnant after stopping an oral contraceptive
c. Some herbal supplements can decrease the effectiveness of an oral contraceptive
d. A pelvic examination is needed prior to starting an oral contraceptive - CORRECT
ANSWER b. It can take up to 1 year to become pregnant after stopping an oral contraceptive
Page 2 of 245
,A nurse is planning to administer medication to an older adult client who has dysphagia. Which of the
following actions should the nurse plan to take?
a. Tilt the client's head back when administering the medications
b. Mix the medications with a semisolid food for the client
c. Administer more than one pill to the client at a time
d. Place the medications on the back of the client's tongue - CORRECT ANSWER b. Mix the
medications with a semisolid food for the client
A nurse is providing teaching to a client about the administration of omeprazole. Which of the
following should the nurse include? a. "You cannot take this medication with an antacid."
b. "You should reduce your intake of calcium while taking this medication."
c. "You should take this medication before meals."
d. "You can take a second dose if symptoms persist up to 2 hours after the first dose." -
CORRECT ANSWER a. "You cannot take this medication with an antacid."
A nurse is assessing for allergies with a client who is scheduled to receive the influenza vaccine.
Which of the following allergies should the nurse report to the provider as a possible contraindication
to receiving the vaccine? a. Eggs
b. Shellfish
c. Peanuts
d. Milk - CORRECT ANSWER a. Eggs
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of benign prostate hypertrophy and a
prescription for doxazosin. The client tells the nurse. "I do not take this medication. I would prefer a
natural therapy." Which of the following supplements should the nurse suggest the client discuss with
the provider? a. Black cohosh
b. Garlic
c. Feverfew
d. Saw palmetto - CORRECT ANSWER d. Saw palmetto
Page 3 of 245
, A nurse is caring for a client who is taking digoxin to treat heart failure. Which of the following
predisposes this client to developing digoxin toxicity?
a. Taking a high ceiling diuretic
b. Having a 10-year history of COPD
c. Having a prolapsed mitral valve
d. Taking an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor - CORRECT ANSWER a. Taking a high ceiling
diuretic
A nurse is administering naloxone to a client who has developed an adverse reaction to morphine. The
nurse should identify which of the following findings as a therapeutic effect of naloxone? a.
Decreased nausea
b. Increased pain relief
c. Decreased blood pressure
d. Increased respiratory rate - CORRECT ANSWER d. Increased respiratory rate
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who has sinusitis and a new prescription for
cefuroxime. Which of the following client information is the priority for the nurse to report to the
provider? a. The client has a BUN of 18 mg/dL
b. The client takes an aspirin daily
c. The client has a history of a severe penicillin allergy
d. The client reports a history of nausea with cefuroxime - CORRECT ANSWER c. The client
has a history of a severe penicillin allergy
A nurse is assessing a client who has hypermagnesemia. Which of the following medications should
the nurse prepare to administer? a. Protamine sulfate
b. Acetylcysteine
c. Calcium gluconate
Page 4 of 245
